FAQ

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Click on the questions below to expand the answers

All ram pumps are only about 20 – 30% efficient, 70-80% of the water is wasted to pump the other 20-30%, however, remember that if you are pumping out of a stream, then whatever you pump is 100% gain since you did not expend any outside energy to do so.

The pumps will not work on a float valve shut off. The pump does not recognize the valve closing and continues to build pressure in the system risking something in the pump blowing apart.

Not entirely, but only a very low thump is heard. You most likely won’t hear it operate if you are as much as 20 feet away. The bigger the pump, the louder, but even the 2” pump is not obtrusive.

The BL Ram Pump, like all ram pumps, works on a 10 to 1 ratio meaning for every foot of “fall” put into the pump we can pump “some” water 10 vertical feet straight up. 15 feet of fall can achieve approximately 150’ of lift. Our pump is limit to a “maximum” of 15 feet of fall into it. Anything over this and the pump is subject to breaking due to the increase in spike pressure. The lesser the height you pump to with the same given fall into the pump, the greater volume of water can be delivered. If you have 15 feet of fall into a 1” pump, and you are pumping to a height of 75 feet you should get a pretty good volume of water considering it is done with an economical PUV pump with NO electricity or gasoline energy.

We have had numerous pumps operating for over 20 years with no problems whatsoever. There are only 3 moving parts in the pump. The poppet has a rubber bumper on it that has only failed in a handful of pumps and this was caused by an excessive amount of sand or gravel getting to it and wearing it down. This same problem is possible in the check valve or air bladder although the only issues I have ever had with check valves were several years ago when my manufacturer had an issue with his mold and it created a sharp place that would wear away at the rubber. These valves were all replaced with a newer style that should never have this problem. The air tanks have bladders in them like a tire inner tube. If they develop a small hole in them that can easily either be replaced with an inexpensive new bladder or by patching just like you would a bicycle inner tube. None of these pieces are expensive or difficult to replace. All these problems can easily be prevented, if you have a concern with your water source, by installing either one of our reverse flow strainers or building some kind of strainer yourself.

Yes the pump will work for you if you put enough “fall” into it to achieve the amount of “lift” you have from the creek to the tank.

Yes the pump will work for you if you put enough “fall” into it to achieve the amount of “lift” you have from the creek to the tank.

TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS

Check your discharge line for "Air Pockets". A small pocket of air in the discharge line can sometimes slow the flow of water or even stop the flow completely. You may be trying to pump the water too high. Remember...the pumps work on a ratio of ABOUT 10 to 1. If you have a fall of 5 feet, then your pump should be able to lift SOME water to a height of approximately 50 feet.

Same answer as question #1. It is also possible your pump may be too small for the volume you are trying to achieve.

Most uneven or "erratic" cycling of the poppet is generally caused by an air pocket or bubble in the drive pipe. The air must be "flushed" out of the drive pipe. You can also shut the system down and give the air bubbles time to travel back up the drive pipe to the standpipe or source and escape.

You may have an air pocket in the INTAKE pipe (prior to the standpipe) that is restricting the flow of water to the pump. This pocket must either be flushed out or permitted to escape through a pinhole drilled in the top of the pipe at the air pocket location. The hole may then be plugged using a self-tapping metal screw of proper size. It is also possible that your pump is TOO big and is “out-running” your source of water.

If your pump is located some distance away from your source of water you may need to install a “standpipe”. See the instructions for determining placement.

You have air pockets in the drive pipe. They must be flushed out or permitted to exsape through the standpipe by shutting down the system long enough for them to do so.